Considering changing careers to IT...Any opinions?

[fionntan]

I have been considering switching careers lately. I currently work in the audio business (well I am trying to). I have been in Atlanta interning at various studios for over a year and have not gotten any closer to having a full time audio position. The music business is dying and the people that already have jobs are not giving them up. The film and television business is still hiring, but everyone wants you to have two-five years experience for the positions I am applying for. The problem is how do you get experience if you can't get hired. Anyway I am 31 years old and I need to make real money, not work for free in the hopes that someone will eventually hire me.

I know there are quite a few people here who work in the IT field or similar fields, so I was wondering if anyone can give me some opinions on their careers and maybe some advice on how to go about getting started. I have been looking into various tech schools for a possible associates degree, but I am not sure what areas are more lucrative. I am pretty tech savvy so I don't think it would be too hard to make the transition. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Battle Pope]

You won't have any easier a time trying to get into an IT position, honestly. I'm in the same boat, I have 8 years practical experience, some college credits, but no work experience and I can't even get interviewed. I'm trying to get my own business going, since I can't get hired anywhere.

 

[invisibledemon]

have you looked for audio jobs up here in nashville?
lots of studios and shit here.

 

[fionntan]

You won't have any easier a time trying to get into an IT position, honestly. I'm in the same boat, I have 8 years practical experience, some college credits, but no work experience and I can't even get interviewed. I'm trying to get my own business going, since I can't get hired anywhere.

I see postings for IT jobs all the time here in Atl. I know that jobs are hard to come by these days, but I have no options for audio. Not even with the connections that I have.

have you looked for audio jobs up here in nashville?
lots of studios and shit here.

I haven't looked in Nashville. I know there are a ton of studios there, but I am more interested in audio for film and television than I am in music. Plus I would like to stay here. My gf has a good job and it would be really difficult for her to relocate right now.

 

[invisibledemon]

well, i know there may be some places down there to work in, but im pretty sure that in order to make it in your industry, you will have to relocate.
also, im pretty sure there are some studios and such here that are involved in the film and tv side of things too.

 

[fionntan]

well, i know there may be some places down there to work in, but im pretty sure that in order to make it in your industry, you will have to relocate.
also, im pretty sure there are some studios and such here that are involved in the film and tv side of things too.

Atlanta is a major hub for television and for music. I will look into Nashville. I like it there and its not so far away that my gf and I couldn't work it out until she could relocate.

 

[Briansol]

If you want to work in IT, what can you do?

basic home pc troubleshooting crap won't get you anywhere.

what can you show ME (the interviewer) what you've done?

 

[fionntan]

I haven't done anything yet. I would go back to school before I start looking for work. I am just considering a different career path. Did you go to school for what you do B, and what did you study?

 

[Drake]

Well I went to ITT Tech and got my AS in Networking. I will tell you the only advantage to actually attending a school like ITT is the ability to get some hands on real equipment and do 'real world' learning. Most folks I know dont have access to Cisco gear and things like that you know.

But I know that has not been everyones experience at a school like ITT. I had some really amazing instructors while I was going there. My program chair has played poker in Bill Gates kitchen, knew Michale Dell when he was using home made signs at trade shows and has about 15 or so books published. The schools head of IT was also very open to us getting into areas that we where not supposed to. Cracking the core router password when that Cisco exploit was still a zero day, cracking the local admin hash on our workstations that sorta thing.

And because of those experiences I got my job with the V.A. Although, I am on the security side of the house. I was able to take all of those experiences and have it count towards experiences even though I have never had a formal career in IT.

 

[fionntan]

I would go to a school like that because I dont have much IT related experience. I am however a quick study and I am interested in learning about anything technology related. I would also like to go to school for the career placement assistance. Teachers are a good way to get connected with companies that could be potential employers. Was ITT an expensive school? They have a campus here in Atl. and it is the school that I have been looking at the most. I was actually going to set up an appointment to talk to someone there next week. Devry also has a local campus and is another possibilty.

 

[B16]

I don't know about IT but if you're interested in Software Development get a 4 year B.S. degree in Computer Science; that's what I did and it has paid off greatly. Only problem is it is a huge time investment and typically have to start working for a low rate. However, at my work we have internships every year that pay around 50k a year. That is always the best foot in the door for our company. Getting a 4 year degree, again, is a huge time commitment; but in my field I wont even look at a resume that doesn't come with at least a Bachelors Degree.

Alternatively IT like what Drake did is another good idea. We have a huge network security group that probably has different requirements.

 

[Briansol]

going to school liekly won't get you shit either..... i completely disagree with b16. perhaps its a different market.

You can have a doctorate in IT/sys/etc, but if you haven't done anything besides school work, your resume is trash to me.

show me what you've done.

 

[B16]

going to school liekly won't get you shit either..... i completely disagree with b16.

You can have a doctorate in IT/sys/etc, but if you haven't done anything besides school work, your resume is trash to me.

show me what you've done.

I disagree, I'm a Manager who hires engineers, I know what I'm looking for.

Like I said, do the schooling, get in on an internship, get experience, then move to the next job for a great pay rate..

I guess it is based on location. We have a huge talent pool in the silicon valley. I want the schooling and experience and I can get it. But you have to start somewhere and you will need the education if you want to move ahead. Sure there are special cases where dropouts become CEO's but you'll have better luck winning the lottery.

 

[fionntan]

I don't know about IT but if you're interested in Software Development get a 4 year B.S. degree in Computer Science; that's what I did and it has paid off greatly. Only problem is it is a huge time investment and typically have to start working for a low rate. However, at my work we have internships every year that pay around 50k a year. That is always the best foot in the door for our company. Getting a 4 year degree, again, is a huge time commitment; but in my field I wont even look at a resume that doesn't come with at least a Bachelors Degree.

Alternatively IT like what Drake did is another good idea. We have a huge network security group that probably has different requirements.

I already have a degree so I am not looking to spend another 4 years in school. More like a year and a half for an associates. I dont think I really want to develop software, I was thinking more like networking or security, something along those lines.

 

[B16]

I already have a degree so I am not looking to spend another 4 years in school. More like a year and a half for an associates. I dont think I really want to develop software, I was thinking more like networking or security, something along those lines.

That's good if you already have a degree. Even a degree in "basket weaving" shows me you completed something.

 

[phyregod]

I wanted a career in IT fresh out of high school. Worked with a company setting up networks for 2 years, went to school and scored a few credits, only to find out that the IT market was absofuckinglutely flooded. Sure, I could work hard and get the job, but the job paid shit, because everyone and their dog was doing it.

Maybe its a better job market now.. But 10 years ago it sucked balls. Thats actually how I ended up working bail bonds for 7 years.. IT market was flooded, so I took a job as admin/data entry at a bond shop. Ended up running the place. Now I'm completely out of the IT market and into pepsi delivery. Yay.

 

[B16]

lol B, didn't quote your comment on a different market.. must be.

 

[fionntan]

going to school liekly won't get you shit either..... i completely disagree with b16. perhaps its a different market.

You can have a doctorate in IT/sys/etc, but if you haven't done anything besides school work, your resume is trash to me.

show me what you've done.

I have to learn how to do it before I can do anything, hence going to school. I understand where you are coming from. Its the same way in the field I am in right now. You have to have a demo reel with proof that you know what you are doing. So if I knew what to do then I could do it and show you.

 

[Briansol]

decide what type of IT work you want to get into...

programming
networking
QA
analyist

then, build something in that niche.
a tool, a script, a blog with how-to's, etc etc.

 

[Drake]

If you do go the networking route that's one of the biggest selling points to going to an actual school is you get real hands on experience with real gear. I dont know about you guys but I dont have to much enterprise switching gear just sitting around. And no comments from you fellas that have been in the field for 10+ years and you have raided your companies 'back up' equipment haha.